Holden Earn C-USA Preseason Honors; NT Picked SecondForward Named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

Head coach John Hedlund enters his 20th season with the Mean Green

Aug. 5, 2014

DENTON, Texas – Sophomore Rachel Holden was named the Conference USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and the North Texas soccer team was picked to finish second in the upcoming season.

“I believe we were picked fourth last year and made it all the way to the final,” said North Texas head coach John Hedlund. “Us coaches all know it’s about how you finish the year; conference play is a long way away right now. The important thing for us is to progress each week as a team, stay healthy and try to crack the top 25 national poll with our tough non-conference schedule.”

In just its first year in C-USA, the 2013 Mean Green team won 14 games and earned a trip to the conference finals. The Mean Green returns seven starters from last year’s team, including Holden, who was named the conference’s offensive player of the year as well as freshman of the year.

Holden opened her freshman year with a hat trick against Texas Southern, and the forward continued her offensive prowess through the rest of the 2013 season. She finished the season scoring 12 goals, good for third in the conference. She was the only player in C-USA to earn two Offensive Player of the Week awards.

Holden capped her freshman campaign by being named NSCAA First-Team All-Region, C-USA Offensive Player of the Year and Conference USA Freshman of the Year.

Charlotte was picked to finish first in the conference, while Rice, the defending conference champions, were selected third. The Mean Green will visit Rice on the road on Oct. 12, and then will host Charlotte on Oct. 24.

North Texas opens its season at home on Friday, August 22 against Texas Southern. The Oregon State Beavers travels to Texas to face the Mean Green on Sunday, August 24 at 11 a.m.